Meconium aspiration device

Claim 1

A meconium aspiration device comprised of: (a) an endotracheal tube having an elongated, flexible, plastic, generally annular wall surrounding a central lumen of a generally uniform diameter and extending the entire length thereof from a proximal end to a distal end through which meconium tainted fluid materials can be aspirated and a stiffening wire totally embedded in said wall without encroachment into the central lumen, said stiffening wire extending substantially the length of said tube from a location a predetermined distance distal of said proximal end to a location just short of said distal end; (b) a fluid collection chamber coupled to said endotracheal tube; (c) disconnectable adapter means interposed between said endotracheal tube and said collection chamber for allowing rapid exchange of a vacuum source used during aspiration with a source of breathable gas for allowing ventilation through said endotracheal tube; and (d) an evacuation tube also coupled in fluid communication with said collection chamber and having a bacterial/viral filter disposed within said evacuation tube.